how do get more power to connect your front handspring stepout to a fhs? im having trouble with this pass. i don't have enough power for my fhs and always land in a squat ):
Hakuna: It's not that severe that i need to go to a doc...i got a really goood ankle brace i have to wear for a long time!
Callie: Not trying to be a creeper and stuff..but just block off your hands and run fast and pound the floor!! and look at your hands(: just thought I'd say that(: hope it's okay(:
@gymnasticsluver - Well I'm glad you got a good brace. That makes a huge difference. I hope you have a fast recovery :)
@callie - gymluver is right about the block! Remember to punch off your hands with a shoulder block. Another thing to think about in the stepout, once you get to the point where you can stand it up instead of landing in a squat, is getting that back leg underneath your body rather than way out in front of you. That will help you go into your second handspring a lot easier. Good luck!
so im so close to having my RO BHS, she said if i got it by myself after like two weeks of doing it good by myself we could work on double bhs and eventually this summer connecting it to a BT. Im amazed that im not scared of my standing bhs at all anymore but terrified of my ro bhs..it use to be i wasn't afraid of my ro bhs but scared of my standing bhs :p blah, my long hang kip. whyy is it so easy for everyone to do a long hang kp but i can learn a gldie kip in two weeks and can't do a long hang kip to save my life ? blah, maybe it will be easier when i get my grips this week. <3 im so excited! i can't wait for gripss :))) I hurt my hip flexor a few weeks ago and it isn't healing..its really hurting my vault because its difficult to run fast and pound the board and get enough height ( and not go str8 into the board to get a shoulder angle to block off but it hurts alot to run fast and stuff so it makes me have to sit out. it doesn't hurt anywhere else but on vault and back walkovers sometimes..://
you should do like your story about gymnastics! how it started, the journey..etcetcetceetcetcetc and the end. it willl be very interesting i think and will help us readers to get to know you better !
hey! So my ankle is feeling a ton better...it still hurts but not near as bad as thursday cause of my new ankle brace. I REALLY wanna go to my gym's gymnastic camp...but my parents said i probably shouldn't go...but my ankle feels so much better and I would take it easy!! But they're like there's 4 more camps for you to go too...but I'm like...I wanna go to the FIRST one.. What do you think I should do?
@callie - Long-hang kips are ALL about timing the swing. Don't worry. You'll figure it out!! But you should get your hip flexor checked out! Hope it gets better soon.
@anonymous - That's a good idea! I never thought to do that. Maybe I will soon :)
@gymnasticsluver - So glad your ankle is feeling better. It's amazing what a good brace can do. But I would probably let it heal for another week or two if you have the option of going to a later camp. In the long run you'll probably be happy you waited it out. If it gets more injured from added gym time it'll only put you out of practice longer. Ask your coach and see what she thinks. I really, really hope it gets better quickly so you can have fun at camp!
OH.MY.GOSH! So i was just on chalk bucket and read a thread about the beam possibly being widen to 8" instead of the 4" I'm going crazy!! I don't like beam but I mean NOTHING will be as impressive on an 8" piece of wood than a 4" piece of wood!!! They said it's for safety concerns but...something else could be done then widening the beam 4 inches!! What do you think?! Oh and btw...yesterday I messed up my achielles on my left foot..which also has the stress fracture.....excellent...
Whaaat! I hadn't heard about that! That's crazy! I mean, I'm all for improving the safety aspect of the sport, but the whole point is that it's a crazy, risky, daredevil thing to do, and that's what makes it fun to watch. Wow, that's gonna be a super controversial issue. They could at least consider widening it to 5" or 6", it's not like they have to double it. That seems extreme. Hey, would you mind sending me the link to that conversation on the CB? I couldn't find it.
How is your Achilles feeling today? I had a lot of tendon problems as well so I know how that goes. Painful :( Hope it's getting better.
my achielles is better! and okay I'll find it and then send it to you! and I'm going to a gymnastics camp in a week and I don't what skills I should work on....do u had any thing you would work on if u were a level 5? I am thinking tucked flyaways and ro bhs bt....anything else???? (:
Good choices to work on at camp! Those are some of the more fun, challenge skills for level 5s who want to move up :) Also maybe work some punch fronts, baby giants, back walkovers on beam and handstand half-turn dismount, and if you're up for it some half-ons on vault? Of course you can also work on perfecting the form on your level 5 skills. :D HAVE FUN!!
thanks so much for the advice(: I'm also gunna try front fulls on tumble trak(: and thanks so much for all the skills! I'll def be working on those! and there's also a plus....cause there's a cute coach that's gunna be there..and be spotting me(: hahah(: sorry just thought i'd have to say that(:
and here's the link to the chalk bucket page! http://www.chalkbucket.com/forums/chalk-bucket/32541-fig-rules.html
ugh i hate grips ): i lost my kip because of them.. i was hoping they wouldn't be too tough but booy..its so hard! gripping the bar during casts is the only thing im finding them helping on . eeek, i start level five team the last week of june :)) im so excited ! i really hope i have my robhs and standing bhs on floor by then :) and hopefully my kip will be atleast kind of straight arms..and hopefully i'll also be able to return to vaulting! wooo. I reallly wanna get a six pack. i have like..a one pack haha im really strong in my abs and legs but i dont have one?! im stronger them some of the team girls lol and a few have six packs ):: wah!
Don't worry about the grips at all!! That happens to everybody. It takes a long time to break new grips in. They make things MUCH more difficult until they're broken in and then you'll never go without them, trust me. Especially when you start working on baby giants and giants. You'll be glad you have them.
Today I had a pretty good practice and at bars I asked my coach if he has trained pak saltos and jaeger's and he said he has and that I could train them when I get up to optionals but the problem is that I don't put enough fire or passion to my gymnastics and hold back alot. I know what he means by that but Im not really sure "how" to put it in my gymnastics epically as a compulsory. My other coach told me that if I could just put all the emotions I ever felt into my gymnastics I could become really really good. But I really don't want to tap into that place cause its just not a good place sense I'm an sentive emotional person aswell except I don't cry just go numb inside and some days it takes alot just to hold it all together. So do you think I should tap into those emotions and go with their advice or is there another way I can show that fire and passion and not hold back without tapping into all those feeling?
Hey lilprincess! I think you just gotta figure out what works for you as far as the presentation of your routines go. Practice at home in front of the mirror when nobody's watching. Try to tap into your fun side, maybe show off a little bit and be a little feisty in your routines :) That's something you can have a lot of fun with but without getting into anything too deep. You know, be sassy and have some attitude. Smile over your shoulder at the judges or really flick your wrists on the dance moves or something, lol. You're right, it's a little more difficult to do stuff like that in compulsories, but you can add it in a little.
Something random you could try (it might sound weird but I actually think it would be helpful) would be to put some music on in your room and just free dance to it. Just do whatever you feel and see if you get into it. Try it with different types of songs... Sad songs, upbeat songs, whatever. That might help you out a little bit to translate the passion into your gymnastics, and also to help you figure out what type of music you feel you can put the most emotion into when it comes time to pick out your music for optionals someday.
I'm not sure if any of this is making sense to you. Mainly what I'm saying is try different things, see if you can just have fun with your routines, and if you want to really put a lot of passion into it, make sure you find a balance between feeling the emotions and just shutting down.
Thanks!I'll be sure to practice showing my fun and sassy side. Outside the gym I'm like that anyway but when I get back in the gym I kinda shutdown because I'm trying so hard to keep focus (cause I get distracted easily). I talk to my mom about it and she says that it could be lack of confidence which is why I go at gymnastics kinda timid and hold back. I do lack confidence that I can do the skills and do them well. Because I feel inconsistent alot of times so I just do the skills timidly. Instead of going at them all the way. And I've actually been doing alot of free dance since I was 8 to all genre of music and still do when I'm not practicing lol. Maybe if our floor routine music was so annoying and beat less I'd be able to dance to it better lol my floor routine isn't horrible it just has no sparkle to it. But thanks for the advice wish me luck I'll be able to get this all down! lol
how do you stay motivated to stretch eeeeeevery night. i keep telling myself i willl, but i never do. its just such a hassle to warmup and then stretch. Its not really so much the stretching thats the problem, but the warming up paart i dread! Once i get into it, its easy to stay with it for the most part, but take a night off and ill never wanna do it again! my splits need to get down to the floor again ! my leaps and jumps are really starting to suffer lol!
Hey Chantelle. I know the feeling! Just remind yourself before you start that it's never so bad once you get going. Have fun with it, make a workout playlist and just dance around to your favorite music or something like that to warm up. That's what I do! I stick my iPod in my sports bra when I work out and before I know it, it's like I've forgotten I was working out at all :)
hey! so guess what skills I got this week!! I got my back walkover on low beam! My long hang kip, glide kip, and my FLYAWAYYYY(: yay! and my punch front on floor! On tumble trak I corrected form on front layout and I got my ROUND OFF BACK HAND BACK TUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(: I'm super stoked! One of the level 6's came up to me and was like "i can't even do that." I was so happy! And the next 2 maybe 3 camps I'm going to I'm gunna perfect all the skills I got and try a front hand step out front hand, and maybe front hand front tuck. and GIANTS on straps and clear hips and cast to handstands and RO BH BT and maybe LO and more bwo on beam(: I'm so happy! Oh and starting Dec 13 and on I can coach!(: yay! I'm so happy! and i get to help with next summer's camp! I might not be able to work on as many skills as i want but I'll still be able too! anyway! do you think I might have a chance at 6? thanks!
your annoying. going through all the comments in past months a minute ago... somehow, i doubt any of those skills are even up to par. a month ago you couldn't even do a ro bhs correctly, never mind a robhs bhs or bhs bt. i don't think you have a chance a level six, you should do another year of level five, score really well ( considering your last scores weren't all that great.) once you have a 35.5+ season, your ready for level six. Getting all those skills in a week.. is highly doubtful and if you did its probs really sloppy and bad form. stop being annoying and asking if you can go level six. You shouldn't go level six at all. Polish the skills you have, then work on level six. Having a level six season that is +33 isn't great, wouldn't you perfer a 37+ season at level five. Gymnastics isn't a race. Getting to the next level asap isn't the point. Having great skills, and doing your best is the point of gymnastics. Not getting sloppy ass skills as fast as you can and saying you have it and then competing when your level five season sucked..did you even score out of level five at a USAG sanctioned?
@gymnasticsluver - Congratulations! That's a whole lot of skills. Now you've just got to work on polishing them up and, most importantly, keeping them consistent. Camps are majorly helpful when it comes to new skills, or so I've heard. Keep working at it! Do I think you have a chance at level 6? Yes, I do from what you tell me. But the jump from 5 to 6 is so big. So many new lvl 6 skills. Just keep that in mind. I agree with what Chantelle said about it not being a race but about doing the best you can at every level. I know since you started a little later you want to move up as fast as you can (and I think you're dedicated enough that you're one of the few who can do that) but it may be more rewarding to really polish up first.
@Chantelle - Hey, now!! Calling somebody annoying is not very encouraging. The reason I love this blog so much is because everybody supports everybody else. I absolutely get what you're saying about polishing your skills in one level before you move to the next. I agree a million times over that you shouldn't go to the next level if you never had good form the level before. But the main problem with gymluver is consistency. Some of those skills she listed that she got this week are skills she has been working on for a long time, and she may have had it before and then lost it and just gotten it back, so I think that explains a lot. Plus, we have no idea what anybody's form looks like on this site. Jumping to conclusions doesn't help.
One other thing - scoring is so different from state to state and region to region that it's hard to compare. You may look at a 33 and say it's subpar, but when I was a level 5 in my state, a 33 would almost win you a meet because of the harsh scoring. I know that sounds crazy, but it's completely true. If you read my gym story, you'd see that I won the 2004 national invite. Guess what I won it with? Out of 700-some girls, I won with a 36. I'm willing to bet my 36 would've been a 38 in some other region. It's possible things have changed over time, I suppose, too. As far as scoring out of level 5, the mobility score is 31.00.
I appreciate your honesty and you make some good points, Chantelle, but I just think everybody should try to be supportive on here. We get enough criticism at the gym, right? This isn't the place for it.
wow. my bad chantelle. but you don't realize how harsh that was. I'm not posting on here again. bye. and thanks hakuna. I am very dedicated. and my form is decent. my level 5 skills are good. I have better form than a lot of the people on my team. but thanks hakuna for all the advice you've given me. I appriciate your HELPFUL critism and not just being a total snob. well bye.
Aww, don't leave, gymnasticsluver! I control what stays on this site, and if there is ever any argumentative talk or rudeness or whatever from this point forward, it's getting deleted. I love talking to you about gym and answering your questions. I would love for you to stay a part of the site but you always have my GU email, too, if you need me!
My intention wasn't to make you upset, luver. But honestly, you are bragging just a bit and it is a bit annoying. Sometimes it just seems like all you care about is how fast you get your skills, Im sorry if i offended or made you upset but sometimes..things just needa be said. But coming to this blog just to tell everyone how great you are is a tad ridiciulous, thats all you ever do. Come here, and brag about how fast your getting your skills. Don't you realize that? Like i said, my apologizes if i came off rude. I didn't mean to attack you in the manner i had attacked you in. I was just pointing it out, and crossing my fingers that you didn't overreact. Like i said im sorry to you and to hakuna. i just sincerely hope you understand where i am coming from, best wishes. xx
chantelle I'm sorry if I come off as if I'm bragging I just am proud of how far I've come in the past 2 years. and I did get all my skills. they are not perfect but they're decent which is what I feel matters to me. I just really wanna try and achieve my dream which is level 9-10 or college. I'm not trying to be self centered I'm just proud. I'm a fast learner and very determined. my life is gymnastics. I practically live there. chantelle best wishes to you! and sorry I overreacted I get very defensive when people say I'm not good enough or I won't be anything cause I've been told that since I started. but look at how far I have come (: anywho. best luck chantelle!!!!(: xoxo
gymnasticsluver do you have grips? just wondeirng :) i finally got my kip w/ gripss on! the coach has been spotting me so i didnt think i could do it but i did it by myself ! it took a few tries but eventually i did it ( one or two w/ straight armss !) it still a bit unconsistant, but it'll get there :) i made most of them. didnt take nearly as long as i thought it would. :p my front hip circle is suffering tho .. my grips always slip off the bar when i do them lol so i have to muscle it up and have little to no cast ;P and im waaay closer on my long hangg! i think ill get it in the next few weeks. i started level five practice which is 3x4 days a week. ( 3 days, four hours.) it onlys twelve hours a week ..im hoping i can do another day when school starts :p It was tough! We had to run like 1000 laps around the building then some leg strength and sprints outside. Wasnt fun :p We have a new coach, lisa and she said i will have my cast to handstand by the end of the summer :) i really hope i can compete level six, i wanna skip it but idk if that will happen..:/ I have all my beam skills on bars and my vault is set. I just need bars and floor -.- lol good job on those skills gymnasticsluver :p you should start a youtube account and post videos, i'd love to see how far you've come ;))
Woohoo Callie! The kip with grips! Have you gotten used to wearing them yet? Has the leather softened up? Ohh oh oh cast handstands are so fun to work on as a level 5. Definitely a challenge skill. I got mine during level 5 too and my coach threw me an ice cream cake party :) (and by "party" I mean literally four or five minutes after practice, lol). Anyway, good job on all your progress, Callie! What's left for you on bars and floor?
I think the youtube thing is a great idea!! If people (and their parents) are comfortable with that it would be fun to see some of your gymnastics!
congrats callie (: sounds like you're doing amazing(: i think we both have the same goal...level 6(: i have beam, and bars set...my vault i still gotta work on blocking harder and floor...well...it's floor..(: but i have better level 6 skills :P haha (: and i may make a youtube account(: anyway! <3
i still need my robhs..its just we don't work on them like we use to so its hard to stay consistant with it. one week i need finger spot the next im landing on my toes in my roundoff and undercutting the bhs..thats really just it, the robhs bt. i think once i get the robhs i won't be so worried..hopefully this week we will work on tumbling and i'll be able to do it again like i use to in December. and on bars i need my flyaway freehip and drop kip. i wanna compete level six in december so i have alot of time to get those skills and i usually pick up skills easier on bars for whatever reason ( took me three weeks to be able to kip and a month to do my front hip + was the firsst to get my bars skills in level four :p) The skill im really worried about is my standing tuck.. i dont know why but its stressing me out lol. i feel like im hanging on by a thread..idk :p Grips are good :) they suck on front hip circles, but otherwise they are comfortable and i like them. A pain to get on .. takes me like five hours to buckle those things! The leather is soft? i guess, well.. its not smooth anymore? lol idk! haha but yeah..hopefully we'll start working bts and level six stuff on bars in the next few weeks. :p Gymnastisluver, do you use grips ? :)
Callie sounds like were the same(: we both need lots of the same skills!(: and I don't use grips...the main coach won't let 5's use em! and btw...the to bhs bt is soooo much easier than 2 bhs in my opinion(: and flyaways are SO much fun! just make sure ur toes are up!(: I love bars I got the best bar score on my team last year(: Callie let's get our goal! LEVEL 6 girl(: <3 good luck girl!
@Callie you have buckle grips? Ahh that's a pain. I always had velcro. Faster to put on, lol. And about the leather, I just meant is it more flexible now. You know how when you first get grips they don't bend super easily. But anyway. I don't have a youtube account but maybe I'll document one of my open gyms and put somethin up eventually :)
Oh, also. Just so you "regulars" know, I'll be on vacation for the next couple of weeks (yay!) so I probably won't be posting as much. I'm bringing my computer but just a heads up. :)
Have fun on vacation hakuna(: and i might make a youtube account..but i don't know..haha(: anyways...hope everyone is having a good summer! I know i am!!!(:
I discovered your blog a few days ago, and since then I've read almost every entry! It's fantastic! :)
I have a problem that I really hope you can help.. back handsprings (on trampoline). I'm fairly confident that I have the physical ability to do one, but I have a serious mental block. Last year I had a coach spotting me until I accidently put my leg out and kneed him in the head, and since then I haven't really tried. I learnt all of my other skills (including bwo) without a spot, and I really don't like having to rely on having my coaches there to be able to try. Now my gym's on a break, but I really want to get it by myself!
I know this is probably a really hard question to answer, since you're a coach, not a physchologist.. but any help you can offer would be excellent :) Thank you, and great blog!
@gymnasticsluver, thanks, hun! I'm sure I will have a wonderful time :) Beach gymnastics is always great!!
@Amy, thank you! I'm so glad you're finding the blog helpful! May I ask how you found it? It's just nice for me to know where my readers are coming from :)
I'm not sure what could be causing your mental block, but it might help to check out some of the Chalk Bucket threads about fears. If you haven't been on the CB yet, it's super helpful. Here's one thread to check out... http://www.chalkbucket.com/forums/question-answer/31302-back-tumbling-fear-issues-help-please.html
It's times like these when I wish I could just jump through the computer and watch you, correct you, spot you, and try to help. The only thing I can really say is that it's not safe to try a skill like that without a spot, even if it is on the trampoline. You're getting into intermediate level gymnastics and it starts to get to the point where a spot is necessary. I'm sure you're physically capable of doing it on your own, but the coach is there in case the mental aspect gets in the way and something wacky happens. There's no shame in having a spot!! It's what your coaches are for! And we're totally used to getting kneed in the face, too. Doesn't phase us. It's part of the job. :) I think that if you're willing to work with a spot, which I SO recommend, it will help you to slowly get over your fear.
Please keep me updated on how it goes when you get back from break! Sorry I couldn't be too much help on this one, but I'm always open for questions! And welcome to the blog :)
yeeah i have double buckle :p im starting to get use to them more and i kind of like them even lol i dont rip as much ( haven't in like a month in a half, record for me! i use to rip a little bit every 1-2 weeks.) which is good, i guess lol. UGHHH THIS LONG HANG KIP ): i made it once, and never again. hfashhfs its making me maad...certainnnly! :x i like get half way up...but i never get on top of the bar? it feels like im going to do it, but then i dont get on top of the bar? it makes me wanna cry lol. i dont have a youtube account gymnasticsluver. i use too put up meet videos but not so much anymore and i ended up deleting it lol. maybe in the future now that im on team :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqu4jDm7XM0&NR=1 @28 seconds is how i finish the kip. :p I couldn't really explain it, so i found a video.. i notice how the girl doesn't glide out which usually makes me do that in a glide kip. could note extending my hips enough be the reason whyy?
Definitely. It's amazing how much the glide affects the rest of the kip. In that video it also has to do with how/when she's bringing her feet to the bar, and I also think there's a bit of a strength issue at the beginning of the video. Long hangs are a little bit different though and a lot more about timing, so it's hard to say without watching you do it. I'm sure you'll get it! It's a good sign that you've gotten it once so we know it's just about figuring out the glide and the timing now.
hakuna! That's what i will be doing here soon <3 i love beach gymnastics! and beach gymnastics pics! <3 hey callie! i'm having the same issues with my long hang! I've been making it more consistantly when my coach told me to extend all the way out as far as i could and WHIP my ankles to bar and pull my hips toward that dang high bar! I usually end up pushing away from it until my coach told me so many things but now there decent! anyway just thought i'd try and help you out callie! sounds like your doing good!! (:
Hakuna! I HAVE AMAZING NEWS! Today..I got my glide kip..EIGHT times with decently straight arms and connected it with the whole beginning of the bar routine!!!(: and i made one long hang.. :/ i'm getting the hang of the long hangs though (: and on beam cartwheel's are consitant now! (: and i held my side handstand tonight for 28 gymnastics (: I was so happy! and I've got all my routines and skills pretty much down pat! okay anyway on to the GREAT news! i told my coach of my level 6 goal & wanting to compete it. since I'm going to 3 other camps i'll be working on all level 6 skills! she said that if I keep working hard and advancing like I am the 2 head coaches might give me a shot!!!!!(: And since I started later, most coaches are like "we want them to go in steps and not skip" but since I'm older my coach thinks "why not? you have the skills and the determination" so if i keep working as hard as am, and getting all the 5 skills perfect, as well as the level 6, I may have a shot at competing 6!!(: i know it's like a 25% chance I will, but still...it's a chance!! I don't care how small!(: it's my dream..i just wanna continue and have fun(: but the rest of my life i will be involved in gymnastics somehow <3
WOOOO KIP! I totally just threw my hands in the air and screamed, I'm so excited for you! Eight times in one practice!! That's an excellent sign. You're really getting it. I love how much you love gymnastics. I can definitely see you coaching one day. The best coaches I've had have been the ones who just really encouraged me to love the sport for all it has to offer, and I can see you being the type of person who could do that for other young girls. :) And I'm sure you're right about always being involved in gymnastics. It's one of those things that will always be a part of you. I couldn't get away from it if I tried.
Blah, get me off this computer! Why am I sitting around?! I'm gonna have to sit for so many hours traveling tomorrow.
Thanks a lot! :) I'm fairly sure I just found you by Googling gymnastics blogs. That's great advice, and now that I think about it; you're right- I would freak out halfway through if I attempted a BHS alone. I'm guessing it'd be a bad idea to try a back tuck/flip alone too? Which, in your opinion, is harder/scarier?
Hakunaaaa(: I know!! I'm so happy!!! I'm pumped up!!! I'm improving so much!!! It's like crazy!!! (: in TWO years..THAT'S how far I've come!!! (: i'm stoked! (: I just really hope i might be able to do college gymnastics! (: hope you're having fun!! (:
@gymnasticsluver I just wanted to say awesome job on everything you've accomplished! I agree with Hakuna your love for gymnastics is really inspiring :)
@Hakuna Hey! I was able to fix the whole emotions problem turns out I just needed to have fun more. And go at my gymnastics more aggressively its helped alot and my floor routines looks better! I've got all my skills in level 5 except for this stupid squat on, on bars. But despite all of that I always mess up at meets because of my nerves (epically on beam & vault) so I end up scoring low last meet scores were 5.1 on beam, 6.1 bars, 8.1 floor and I messed up vault so it was a scratch. I know scores arnt everything but its making me really pissed off because I do 7,8,9 scoring routine's at home (my gym) but at meets I keep choking. So then when I'm doing well at home I get bored of level 5 because its easy and I can do it well but that doesn't show when I'm competing. Like last practice my coach let us do front tucks off the vault into the pit that had a mat on top of it and I landed mine but my front handspring on vault is still messy because of my hand placement and bent legs. Then on bars I can't get a squat on but I can do giants on strap bar. I'm just confused on why these basic skills are so hard but the harder skills are easier?
Thanks Lilprincess! It means a lot to know that you find my love for this crazy sport inspiring<3 I love it! and btw...i know how you feel about the whole like "higher level skills being easier then 5" that's how I feel!! It's horrible! and it makes me so pissed but I just remember if I want to work on higher level skills i have to prove that I can do my level skills no matter how much i don't wanna do it..i know i have too...gah! this sport is crazy and sometimes very unfair! but I still love it!! <3
@Amy - Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't recommend you doing anything at or above the level of a back handspring (and back tucks are part of a progression - BHS, back tuck, back pike, back layout, etc.) without a spot just to be safe. I know a lot of people do that on their trampolines even without taking a lesson, but it really can be super dangerous. I think a spot is also just helpful in allowing you to learn the skill without being quite as likely to develop a fear. And you'll also be sure that you're using the correct form. It's such a pain to try to learn something on your own, learn it with bad habits, and then have to start over trying to correct it.
@Lilprincess - Good, I'm glad to hear it! I feel like gymnastics gets so serious and a lot of times we forget to just have fun with it! I was the same way you are with meets. I never performed nearly as well as I did during practice. I think I got better with time, so I hope that happens for you too. As for the upper level skills... Sometimes I think you feel like they come easier because you're not under a time crunch with them, you're just doing them for fun and you're more relaxed about it. I don't really know. Once you actually get to the level where you need to perfect it, though, those skills prove to be more challenging. Giants are so much fun on strap, right?!?! But at least for me, I had a ton of trouble with them the second I got on a pit bar (because strap bar is designed to make it easy to whip around since there's no friction between the bar and your hands) and then even more trouble on a set. Hopefully you'll just breeze through that stuff! It is a ton of fun to learn. I always loved uptraining. Try to keep having fun with your level 5 stuff, too :) Also, thanks for your nice words to gymnasticsluver :) I can tell you'd make a great teammate.
@gymnasticsluver Your welcome! I agree 100%!!! I'll be so happy when this season is over!! Have you finished off you level 5 season yet? And if you don't mind me asking how long have you've been in gymnastics?
@Hakuna I know exactly what you mean! I always forget to have fun in gymnastics or at least show I am lol. Time always seems to cure everything! I'm just bewildered because I did better with my nerves last year as a 4 then this year. Then again level 4 and 5 are two different things sort of! That makes ALOT of sense about the upper skills because I use like doing squat ons because they were fun even if I didn't make it. Now I hate them because I have to make them. Yes giants are EXTREMELY fun on straps I love the thrill of going over!! Lol I think if I stay fearless I'll breeze through any problems with them. Are giants easier with or without grips? I'm going to defiantly change my attitude about level 5 and try to have more fun with it. Aww thanks! I love encouraging other people in gymnastics because its a tuff sport! And its nice to be nice to others cause gym drama spreads faster then any other drama I've seen!
Giants are much better with grips, I think. Grips were made basically for that skill. They're going to benefit you on any sort of higher-level circling skill.
urgh! I think I have a stress fracture in my ankle!
ReplyDeleteOh nooo! :( That's no good. Did you go to the doctor?
ReplyDeletehow do get more power to connect your front handspring stepout to a fhs? im having trouble with this pass. i don't have enough power for my fhs and always land in a squat ):
ReplyDeleteHakuna: It's not that severe that i need to go to a doc...i got a really goood ankle brace i have to wear for a long time!
ReplyDeleteCallie: Not trying to be a creeper and stuff..but just block off your hands and run fast and pound the floor!! and look at your hands(: just thought I'd say that(: hope it's okay(:
@gymnasticsluver - Well I'm glad you got a good brace. That makes a huge difference. I hope you have a fast recovery :)
ReplyDelete@callie - gymluver is right about the block! Remember to punch off your hands with a shoulder block. Another thing to think about in the stepout, once you get to the point where you can stand it up instead of landing in a squat, is getting that back leg underneath your body rather than way out in front of you. That will help you go into your second handspring a lot easier. Good luck!
so im so close to having my RO BHS, she said if i got it by myself after like two weeks of doing it good by myself we could work on double bhs and eventually this summer connecting it to a BT. Im amazed that im not scared of my standing bhs at all anymore but terrified of my ro bhs..it use to be i wasn't afraid of my ro bhs but scared of my standing bhs :p blah, my long hang kip. whyy is it so easy for everyone to do a long hang kp but i can learn a gldie kip in two weeks and can't do a long hang kip to save my life ? blah, maybe it will be easier when i get my grips this week. <3 im so excited! i can't wait for gripss :))) I hurt my hip flexor a few weeks ago and it isn't healing..its really hurting my vault because its difficult to run fast and pound the board and get enough height ( and not go str8 into the board to get a shoulder angle to block off but it hurts alot to run fast and stuff so it makes me have to sit out. it doesn't hurt anywhere else but on vault and back walkovers sometimes..://
ReplyDeleteyou should do like your story about gymnastics! how it started, the journey..etcetcetceetcetcetc and the end. it willl be very interesting i think and will help us readers to get to know you better !
ReplyDeletehey! So my ankle is feeling a ton better...it still hurts but not near as bad as thursday cause of my new ankle brace. I REALLY wanna go to my gym's gymnastic camp...but my parents said i probably shouldn't go...but my ankle feels so much better and I would take it easy!! But they're like there's 4 more camps for you to go too...but I'm like...I wanna go to the FIRST one.. What do you think I should do?
ReplyDelete@callie - Long-hang kips are ALL about timing the swing. Don't worry. You'll figure it out!! But you should get your hip flexor checked out! Hope it gets better soon.
ReplyDelete@anonymous - That's a good idea! I never thought to do that. Maybe I will soon :)
@gymnasticsluver - So glad your ankle is feeling better. It's amazing what a good brace can do. But I would probably let it heal for another week or two if you have the option of going to a later camp. In the long run you'll probably be happy you waited it out. If it gets more injured from added gym time it'll only put you out of practice longer. Ask your coach and see what she thinks. I really, really hope it gets better quickly so you can have fun at camp!
OH.MY.GOSH! So i was just on chalk bucket and read a thread about the beam possibly being widen to 8" instead of the 4" I'm going crazy!! I don't like beam but I mean NOTHING will be as impressive on an 8" piece of wood than a 4" piece of wood!!! They said it's for safety concerns but...something else could be done then widening the beam 4 inches!! What do you think?! Oh and btw...yesterday I messed up my achielles on my left foot..which also has the stress fracture.....excellent...
ReplyDeleteWhaaat! I hadn't heard about that! That's crazy! I mean, I'm all for improving the safety aspect of the sport, but the whole point is that it's a crazy, risky, daredevil thing to do, and that's what makes it fun to watch. Wow, that's gonna be a super controversial issue. They could at least consider widening it to 5" or 6", it's not like they have to double it. That seems extreme. Hey, would you mind sending me the link to that conversation on the CB? I couldn't find it.
ReplyDeleteHow is your Achilles feeling today? I had a lot of tendon problems as well so I know how that goes. Painful :( Hope it's getting better.
my achielles is better! and okay I'll find it and then send it to you! and I'm going to a gymnastics camp in a week and I don't what skills I should work on....do u had any thing you would work on if u were a level 5? I am thinking tucked flyaways and ro bhs bt....anything else???? (:
ReplyDeleteGood choices to work on at camp! Those are some of the more fun, challenge skills for level 5s who want to move up :) Also maybe work some punch fronts, baby giants, back walkovers on beam and handstand half-turn dismount, and if you're up for it some half-ons on vault? Of course you can also work on perfecting the form on your level 5 skills. :D HAVE FUN!!
ReplyDeletethanks so much for the advice(: I'm also gunna try front fulls on tumble trak(: and thanks so much for all the skills! I'll def be working on those! and there's also a plus....cause there's a cute coach that's gunna be there..and be spotting me(: hahah(: sorry just thought i'd have to say that(:
ReplyDeleteand here's the link to the chalk bucket page! http://www.chalkbucket.com/forums/chalk-bucket/32541-fig-rules.html
Woooo good-looking coaches is always a plus ;) haha! And thanks for sending the link, that's really interesting!
ReplyDeleteugh i hate grips ): i lost my kip because of them.. i was hoping they wouldn't be too tough but booy..its so hard! gripping the bar during casts is the only thing im finding them helping on . eeek, i start level five team the last week of june :)) im so excited ! i really hope i have my robhs and standing bhs on floor by then :) and hopefully my kip will be atleast kind of straight arms..and hopefully i'll also be able to return to vaulting! wooo. I reallly wanna get a six pack. i have like..a one pack haha im really strong in my abs and legs but i dont have one?! im stronger them some of the team girls lol and a few have six packs ):: wah!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the grips at all!! That happens to everybody. It takes a long time to break new grips in. They make things MUCH more difficult until they're broken in and then you'll never go without them, trust me. Especially when you start working on baby giants and giants. You'll be glad you have them.
ReplyDeleteToday I had a pretty good practice and at bars I asked my coach if he has trained pak saltos and jaeger's and he said he has and that I could train them when I get up to optionals but the problem is that I don't put enough fire or passion to my gymnastics and hold back alot. I know what he means by that but Im not really sure "how" to put it in my gymnastics epically as a compulsory. My other coach told me that if I could just put all the emotions I ever felt into my gymnastics I could become really really good. But I really don't want to tap into that place cause its just not a good place sense I'm an sentive emotional person aswell except I don't cry just go numb inside and some days it takes alot just to hold it all together. So do you think I should tap into those emotions and go with their advice or is there another way I can show that fire and passion and not hold back without tapping into all those feeling?
ReplyDeleteHey lilprincess! I think you just gotta figure out what works for you as far as the presentation of your routines go. Practice at home in front of the mirror when nobody's watching. Try to tap into your fun side, maybe show off a little bit and be a little feisty in your routines :) That's something you can have a lot of fun with but without getting into anything too deep. You know, be sassy and have some attitude. Smile over your shoulder at the judges or really flick your wrists on the dance moves or something, lol. You're right, it's a little more difficult to do stuff like that in compulsories, but you can add it in a little.
ReplyDeleteSomething random you could try (it might sound weird but I actually think it would be helpful) would be to put some music on in your room and just free dance to it. Just do whatever you feel and see if you get into it. Try it with different types of songs... Sad songs, upbeat songs, whatever. That might help you out a little bit to translate the passion into your gymnastics, and also to help you figure out what type of music you feel you can put the most emotion into when it comes time to pick out your music for optionals someday.
I'm not sure if any of this is making sense to you. Mainly what I'm saying is try different things, see if you can just have fun with your routines, and if you want to really put a lot of passion into it, make sure you find a balance between feeling the emotions and just shutting down.
Hey!
ReplyDeleteThanks!I'll be sure to practice showing my fun and sassy side. Outside the gym I'm like that anyway but when I get back in the gym I kinda shutdown because I'm trying so hard to keep focus (cause I get distracted easily). I talk to my mom about it and she says that it could be lack of confidence which is why I go at gymnastics kinda timid and hold back. I do lack confidence that I can do the skills and do them well. Because I feel inconsistent alot of times so I just do the skills timidly. Instead of going at them all the way. And I've actually been doing alot of free dance since I was 8 to all genre of music and still do when I'm not practicing lol. Maybe if our floor routine music was so annoying and beat less I'd be able to dance to it better lol my floor routine isn't horrible it just has no sparkle to it. But thanks for the advice wish me luck I'll be able to get this all down! lol
how do you stay motivated to stretch eeeeeevery night. i keep telling myself i willl, but i never do. its just such a hassle to warmup and then stretch. Its not really so much the stretching thats the problem, but the warming up paart i dread! Once i get into it, its easy to stay with it for the most part, but take a night off and ill never wanna do it again! my splits need to get down to the floor again ! my leaps and jumps are really starting to suffer lol!
ReplyDeleteHey Chantelle. I know the feeling! Just remind yourself before you start that it's never so bad once you get going. Have fun with it, make a workout playlist and just dance around to your favorite music or something like that to warm up. That's what I do! I stick my iPod in my sports bra when I work out and before I know it, it's like I've forgotten I was working out at all :)
ReplyDeletehey! so guess what skills I got this week!! I got my back walkover on low beam! My long hang kip, glide kip, and my FLYAWAYYYY(: yay! and my punch front on floor! On tumble trak I corrected form on front layout and I got my ROUND OFF BACK HAND BACK TUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(: I'm super stoked! One of the level 6's came up to me and was like "i can't even do that." I was so happy! And the next 2 maybe 3 camps I'm going to I'm gunna perfect all the skills I got and try a front hand step out front hand, and maybe front hand front tuck. and GIANTS on straps and clear hips and cast to handstands and RO BH BT and maybe LO and more bwo on beam(: I'm so happy! Oh and starting Dec 13 and on I can coach!(: yay! I'm so happy! and i get to help with next summer's camp! I might not be able to work on as many skills as i want but I'll still be able too! anyway! do you think I might have a chance at 6? thanks!
ReplyDeleteyour annoying. going through all the comments in past months a minute ago... somehow, i doubt any of those skills are even up to par. a month ago you couldn't even do a ro bhs correctly, never mind a robhs bhs or bhs bt. i don't think you have a chance a level six, you should do another year of level five, score really well ( considering your last scores weren't all that great.) once you have a 35.5+ season, your ready for level six. Getting all those skills in a week.. is highly doubtful and if you did its probs really sloppy and bad form. stop being annoying and asking if you can go level six. You shouldn't go level six at all. Polish the skills you have, then work on level six. Having a level six season that is +33 isn't great, wouldn't you perfer a 37+ season at level five. Gymnastics isn't a race. Getting to the next level asap isn't the point. Having great skills, and doing your best is the point of gymnastics. Not getting sloppy ass skills as fast as you can and saying you have it and then competing when your level five season sucked..did you even score out of level five at a USAG sanctioned?
ReplyDelete@gymnasticsluver - Congratulations! That's a whole lot of skills. Now you've just got to work on polishing them up and, most importantly, keeping them consistent. Camps are majorly helpful when it comes to new skills, or so I've heard. Keep working at it! Do I think you have a chance at level 6? Yes, I do from what you tell me. But the jump from 5 to 6 is so big. So many new lvl 6 skills. Just keep that in mind. I agree with what Chantelle said about it not being a race but about doing the best you can at every level. I know since you started a little later you want to move up as fast as you can (and I think you're dedicated enough that you're one of the few who can do that) but it may be more rewarding to really polish up first.
ReplyDelete@Chantelle - Hey, now!! Calling somebody annoying is not very encouraging. The reason I love this blog so much is because everybody supports everybody else. I absolutely get what you're saying about polishing your skills in one level before you move to the next. I agree a million times over that you shouldn't go to the next level if you never had good form the level before. But the main problem with gymluver is consistency. Some of those skills she listed that she got this week are skills she has been working on for a long time, and she may have had it before and then lost it and just gotten it back, so I think that explains a lot. Plus, we have no idea what anybody's form looks like on this site. Jumping to conclusions doesn't help.
One other thing - scoring is so different from state to state and region to region that it's hard to compare. You may look at a 33 and say it's subpar, but when I was a level 5 in my state, a 33 would almost win you a meet because of the harsh scoring. I know that sounds crazy, but it's completely true. If you read my gym story, you'd see that I won the 2004 national invite. Guess what I won it with? Out of 700-some girls, I won with a 36. I'm willing to bet my 36 would've been a 38 in some other region. It's possible things have changed over time, I suppose, too. As far as scoring out of level 5, the mobility score is 31.00.
I appreciate your honesty and you make some good points, Chantelle, but I just think everybody should try to be supportive on here. We get enough criticism at the gym, right? This isn't the place for it.
wow. my bad chantelle. but you don't realize how harsh that was. I'm not posting on here again. bye. and thanks hakuna. I am very dedicated. and my form is decent. my level 5 skills are good. I have better form than a lot of the people on my team. but thanks hakuna for all the advice you've given me. I appriciate your HELPFUL critism and not just being a total snob. well bye.
ReplyDeleteAww, don't leave, gymnasticsluver! I control what stays on this site, and if there is ever any argumentative talk or rudeness or whatever from this point forward, it's getting deleted. I love talking to you about gym and answering your questions. I would love for you to stay a part of the site but you always have my GU email, too, if you need me!
ReplyDeleteMy intention wasn't to make you upset, luver. But honestly, you are bragging just a bit and it is a bit annoying. Sometimes it just seems like all you care about is how fast you get your skills, Im sorry if i offended or made you upset but sometimes..things just needa be said. But coming to this blog just to tell everyone how great you are is a tad ridiciulous, thats all you ever do. Come here, and brag about how fast your getting your skills. Don't you realize that? Like i said, my apologizes if i came off rude. I didn't mean to attack you in the manner i had attacked you in. I was just pointing it out, and crossing my fingers that you didn't overreact. Like i said im sorry to you and to hakuna. i just sincerely hope you understand where i am coming from, best wishes. xx
ReplyDeletechantelle I'm sorry if I come off as if I'm bragging I just am proud of how far I've come in the past 2 years. and I did get all my skills. they are not perfect but they're decent which is what I feel matters to me. I just really wanna try and achieve my dream which is level 9-10 or college. I'm not trying to be self centered I'm just proud. I'm a fast learner and very determined. my life is gymnastics. I practically live there. chantelle best wishes to you! and sorry I overreacted I get very defensive when people say I'm not good enough or I won't be anything cause I've been told that since I started. but look at how far I have come (: anywho. best luck chantelle!!!!(: xoxo
ReplyDeleteYay, we're all friends again! :) Thank you for handling that very maturely, you two.
ReplyDeletegymnasticsluver do you have grips? just wondeirng :) i finally got my kip w/ gripss on! the coach has been spotting me so i didnt think i could do it but i did it by myself ! it took a few tries but eventually i did it ( one or two w/ straight armss !) it still a bit unconsistant, but it'll get there :) i made most of them. didnt take nearly as long as i thought it would. :p my front hip circle is suffering tho .. my grips always slip off the bar when i do them lol so i have to muscle it up and have little to no cast ;P and im waaay closer on my long hangg! i think ill get it in the next few weeks. i started level five practice which is 3x4 days a week. ( 3 days, four hours.) it onlys twelve hours a week ..im hoping i can do another day when school starts :p It was tough! We had to run like 1000 laps around the building then some leg strength and sprints outside. Wasnt fun :p We have a new coach, lisa and she said i will have my cast to handstand by the end of the summer :) i really hope i can compete level six, i wanna skip it but idk if that will happen..:/ I have all my beam skills on bars and my vault is set. I just need bars and floor -.- lol good job on those skills gymnasticsluver :p you should start a youtube account and post videos, i'd love to see how far you've come ;))
ReplyDeleteWoohoo Callie! The kip with grips! Have you gotten used to wearing them yet? Has the leather softened up? Ohh oh oh cast handstands are so fun to work on as a level 5. Definitely a challenge skill. I got mine during level 5 too and my coach threw me an ice cream cake party :) (and by "party" I mean literally four or five minutes after practice, lol). Anyway, good job on all your progress, Callie! What's left for you on bars and floor?
ReplyDeleteI think the youtube thing is a great idea!! If people (and their parents) are comfortable with that it would be fun to see some of your gymnastics!
congrats callie (: sounds like you're doing amazing(: i think we both have the same goal...level 6(: i have beam, and bars set...my vault i still gotta work on blocking harder and floor...well...it's floor..(: but i have better level 6 skills :P haha (: and i may make a youtube account(: anyway! <3
ReplyDeletei still need my robhs..its just we don't work on them like we use to so its hard to stay consistant with it. one week i need finger spot the next im landing on my toes in my roundoff and undercutting the bhs..thats really just it, the robhs bt. i think once i get the robhs i won't be so worried..hopefully this week we will work on tumbling and i'll be able to do it again like i use to in December. and on bars i need my flyaway freehip and drop kip. i wanna compete level six in december so i have alot of time to get those skills and i usually pick up skills easier on bars for whatever reason ( took me three weeks to be able to kip and a month to do my front hip + was the firsst to get my bars skills in level four :p) The skill im really worried about is my standing tuck.. i dont know why but its stressing me out lol. i feel like im hanging on by a thread..idk :p Grips are good :) they suck on front hip circles, but otherwise they are comfortable and i like them. A pain to get on .. takes me like five hours to buckle those things! The leather is soft? i guess, well.. its not smooth anymore? lol idk! haha but yeah..hopefully we'll start working bts and level six stuff on bars in the next few weeks. :p Gymnastisluver, do you use grips ? :)
ReplyDeleteCallie sounds like were the same(: we both need lots of the same skills!(: and I don't use grips...the main coach won't let 5's use em! and btw...the to bhs bt is soooo much easier than 2 bhs in my opinion(: and flyaways are SO much fun! just make sure ur toes are up!(: I love bars I got the best bar score on my team last year(: Callie let's get our goal! LEVEL 6 girl(: <3 good luck girl!
ReplyDeleteCallie or Hakuna..do either of you have a youtube account? (:
ReplyDelete@Callie you have buckle grips? Ahh that's a pain. I always had velcro. Faster to put on, lol. And about the leather, I just meant is it more flexible now. You know how when you first get grips they don't bend super easily. But anyway. I don't have a youtube account but maybe I'll document one of my open gyms and put somethin up eventually :)
ReplyDeleteOh, also. Just so you "regulars" know, I'll be on vacation for the next couple of weeks (yay!) so I probably won't be posting as much. I'm bringing my computer but just a heads up. :)
ReplyDeleteHave fun on vacation hakuna(: and i might make a youtube account..but i don't know..haha(: anyways...hope everyone is having a good summer! I know i am!!!(:
ReplyDeleteI discovered your blog a few days ago, and since then I've read almost every entry! It's fantastic! :)
ReplyDeleteI have a problem that I really hope you can help.. back handsprings (on trampoline). I'm fairly confident that I have the physical ability to do one, but I have a serious mental block. Last year I had a coach spotting me until I accidently put my leg out and kneed him in the head, and since then I haven't really tried. I learnt all of my other skills (including bwo) without a spot, and I really don't like having to rely on having my coaches there to be able to try. Now my gym's on a break, but I really want to get it by myself!
I know this is probably a really hard question to answer, since you're a coach, not a physchologist.. but any help you can offer would be excellent :)
Thank you, and great blog!
@gymnasticsluver, thanks, hun! I'm sure I will have a wonderful time :) Beach gymnastics is always great!!
ReplyDelete@Amy, thank you! I'm so glad you're finding the blog helpful! May I ask how you found it? It's just nice for me to know where my readers are coming from :)
I'm not sure what could be causing your mental block, but it might help to check out some of the Chalk Bucket threads about fears. If you haven't been on the CB yet, it's super helpful. Here's one thread to check out... http://www.chalkbucket.com/forums/question-answer/31302-back-tumbling-fear-issues-help-please.html
It's times like these when I wish I could just jump through the computer and watch you, correct you, spot you, and try to help. The only thing I can really say is that it's not safe to try a skill like that without a spot, even if it is on the trampoline. You're getting into intermediate level gymnastics and it starts to get to the point where a spot is necessary. I'm sure you're physically capable of doing it on your own, but the coach is there in case the mental aspect gets in the way and something wacky happens. There's no shame in having a spot!! It's what your coaches are for! And we're totally used to getting kneed in the face, too. Doesn't phase us. It's part of the job. :) I think that if you're willing to work with a spot, which I SO recommend, it will help you to slowly get over your fear.
Please keep me updated on how it goes when you get back from break! Sorry I couldn't be too much help on this one, but I'm always open for questions! And welcome to the blog :)
yeeah i have double buckle :p im starting to get use to them more and i kind of like them even lol i dont rip as much ( haven't in like a month in a half, record for me! i use to rip a little bit every 1-2 weeks.) which is good, i guess lol. UGHHH THIS LONG HANG KIP ): i made it once, and never again. hfashhfs its making me maad...certainnnly! :x i like get half way up...but i never get on top of the bar? it feels like im going to do it, but then i dont get on top of the bar? it makes me wanna cry lol.
ReplyDeletei dont have a youtube account gymnasticsluver. i use too put up meet videos but not so much anymore and i ended up deleting it lol. maybe in the future now that im on team :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqu4jDm7XM0&NR=1 @28 seconds is how i finish the kip. :p I couldn't really explain it, so i found a video.. i notice how the girl doesn't glide out which usually makes me do that in a glide kip. could note extending my hips enough be the reason whyy?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. It's amazing how much the glide affects the rest of the kip. In that video it also has to do with how/when she's bringing her feet to the bar, and I also think there's a bit of a strength issue at the beginning of the video. Long hangs are a little bit different though and a lot more about timing, so it's hard to say without watching you do it. I'm sure you'll get it! It's a good sign that you've gotten it once so we know it's just about figuring out the glide and the timing now.
ReplyDeletehakuna! That's what i will be doing here soon <3 i love beach gymnastics! and beach gymnastics pics! <3 hey callie! i'm having the same issues with my long hang! I've been making it more consistantly when my coach told me to extend all the way out as far as i could and WHIP my ankles to bar and pull my hips toward that dang high bar! I usually end up pushing away from it until my coach told me so many things but now there decent! anyway just thought i'd try and help you out callie! sounds like your doing good!! (:
ReplyDeleteHakuna! I HAVE AMAZING NEWS! Today..I got my glide kip..EIGHT times with decently straight arms and connected it with the whole beginning of the bar routine!!!(: and i made one long hang.. :/ i'm getting the hang of the long hangs though (: and on beam cartwheel's are consitant now! (: and i held my side handstand tonight for 28 gymnastics (: I was so happy! and I've got all my routines and skills pretty much down pat! okay anyway on to the GREAT news! i told my coach of my level 6 goal & wanting to compete it. since I'm going to 3 other camps i'll be working on all level 6 skills! she said that if I keep working hard and advancing like I am the 2 head coaches might give me a shot!!!!!(: And since I started later, most coaches are like "we want them to go in steps and not skip" but since I'm older my coach thinks "why not? you have the skills and the determination" so if i keep working as hard as am, and getting all the 5 skills perfect, as well as the level 6, I may have a shot at competing 6!!(: i know it's like a 25% chance I will, but still...it's a chance!! I don't care how small!(: it's my dream..i just wanna continue and have fun(: but the rest of my life i will be involved in gymnastics somehow <3
WOOOO KIP! I totally just threw my hands in the air and screamed, I'm so excited for you! Eight times in one practice!! That's an excellent sign. You're really getting it. I love how much you love gymnastics. I can definitely see you coaching one day. The best coaches I've had have been the ones who just really encouraged me to love the sport for all it has to offer, and I can see you being the type of person who could do that for other young girls. :) And I'm sure you're right about always being involved in gymnastics. It's one of those things that will always be a part of you. I couldn't get away from it if I tried.
ReplyDeleteBlah, get me off this computer! Why am I sitting around?! I'm gonna have to sit for so many hours traveling tomorrow.
Thanks a lot! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly sure I just found you by Googling gymnastics blogs.
That's great advice, and now that I think about it; you're right- I would freak out halfway through if I attempted a BHS alone.
I'm guessing it'd be a bad idea to try a back tuck/flip alone too? Which, in your opinion, is harder/scarier?
Hakunaaaa(: I know!! I'm so happy!!! I'm pumped up!!! I'm improving so much!!! It's like crazy!!! (: in TWO years..THAT'S how far I've come!!! (: i'm stoked! (: I just really hope i might be able to do college gymnastics! (: hope you're having fun!! (:
ReplyDelete@gymnasticsluver I just wanted to say awesome job on everything you've accomplished! I agree with Hakuna your love for gymnastics is really inspiring :)
ReplyDelete@Hakuna Hey! I was able to fix the whole emotions problem turns out I just needed to have fun more. And go at my gymnastics more aggressively its helped alot and my floor routines looks better! I've got all my skills in level 5 except for this stupid squat on, on bars. But despite all of that I always mess up at meets because of my nerves (epically on beam & vault) so I end up scoring low last meet scores were 5.1 on beam, 6.1 bars, 8.1 floor and I messed up vault so it was a scratch. I know scores arnt everything but its making me really pissed off because I do 7,8,9 scoring routine's at home (my gym) but at meets I keep choking. So then when I'm doing well at home I get bored of level 5 because its easy and I can do it well but that doesn't show when I'm competing. Like last practice my coach let us do front tucks off the vault into the pit that had a mat on top of it and I landed mine but my front handspring on vault is still messy because of my hand placement and bent legs. Then on bars I can't get a squat on but I can do giants on strap bar. I'm just confused on why these basic skills are so hard but the harder skills are easier?
Thanks Lilprincess! It means a lot to know that you find my love for this crazy sport inspiring<3 I love it! and btw...i know how you feel about the whole like "higher level skills being easier then 5" that's how I feel!! It's horrible! and it makes me so pissed but I just remember if I want to work on higher level skills i have to prove that I can do my level skills no matter how much i don't wanna do it..i know i have too...gah! this sport is crazy and sometimes very unfair! but I still love it!! <3
ReplyDelete@Amy - Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't recommend you doing anything at or above the level of a back handspring (and back tucks are part of a progression - BHS, back tuck, back pike, back layout, etc.) without a spot just to be safe. I know a lot of people do that on their trampolines even without taking a lesson, but it really can be super dangerous. I think a spot is also just helpful in allowing you to learn the skill without being quite as likely to develop a fear. And you'll also be sure that you're using the correct form. It's such a pain to try to learn something on your own, learn it with bad habits, and then have to start over trying to correct it.
ReplyDelete@Lilprincess - Good, I'm glad to hear it! I feel like gymnastics gets so serious and a lot of times we forget to just have fun with it! I was the same way you are with meets. I never performed nearly as well as I did during practice. I think I got better with time, so I hope that happens for you too. As for the upper level skills... Sometimes I think you feel like they come easier because you're not under a time crunch with them, you're just doing them for fun and you're more relaxed about it. I don't really know. Once you actually get to the level where you need to perfect it, though, those skills prove to be more challenging. Giants are so much fun on strap, right?!?! But at least for me, I had a ton of trouble with them the second I got on a pit bar (because strap bar is designed to make it easy to whip around since there's no friction between the bar and your hands) and then even more trouble on a set. Hopefully you'll just breeze through that stuff! It is a ton of fun to learn. I always loved uptraining. Try to keep having fun with your level 5 stuff, too :) Also, thanks for your nice words to gymnasticsluver :) I can tell you'd make a great teammate.
@gymnasticsluver Your welcome! I agree 100%!!! I'll be so happy when this season is over!! Have you finished off you level 5 season yet? And if you don't mind me asking how long have you've been in gymnastics?
ReplyDelete@Hakuna I know exactly what you mean! I always forget to have fun in gymnastics or at least show I am lol. Time always seems to cure everything! I'm just bewildered because I did better with my nerves last year as a 4 then this year. Then again level 4 and 5 are two different things sort of! That makes ALOT of sense about the upper skills because I use like doing squat ons because they were fun even if I didn't make it. Now I hate them because I have to make them. Yes giants are EXTREMELY fun on straps I love the thrill of going over!! Lol I think if I stay fearless I'll breeze through any problems with them. Are giants easier with or without grips? I'm going to defiantly change my attitude about level 5 and try to have more fun with it. Aww thanks! I love encouraging other people in gymnastics because its a tuff sport! And its nice to be nice to others cause gym drama spreads faster then any other drama I've seen!
Giants are much better with grips, I think. Grips were made basically for that skill. They're going to benefit you on any sort of higher-level circling skill.
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